The story of a world-famous song (with curly hair!)

Imagine you’re a schoolteacher on your end of term break. You’ve just finished your breakfast on Christmas Eve in the year 1818 when there’s a panicked rap on the door.

Bleary-eyed, you open the door to the local young priest who is clutching a piece of paper.  “We have a major problem “ he blurts.

So you invite him in and pacing up and down eventually says. “Franz, You can’t play the organ at midnight mass tonight.  The river burst its banks last night and although the flood has subsided from the church - the organ is completely ruined.”

What happened next?

Dance of the Monkey King

Part of the ethos of Canto is introducing the choir to the widest variety of music from all kinds of genres, eras and traditions

Let me take you on an exploratory journey of community music from the island of Bali, Indonesia with the Kecak. (pronounced 'Keh-chak")

Discover the Kecak

Do you know the benefits of singing together with others?

It’s good for your physical health, your well-being and happiness and a great social glue

Explore the benefits

A wonderful piece of music composed only months before Mozart died

So why did he compose it?

Find out why